Auburndale, Florida -- A Polk County teenager was killed walking to school Wednesday morning, after he was struck by a minivan.

17-year-old Enrique Hernandez was walking to Tenoroc High School in Auburndale around 6:20 a.m. when he was struck by a a Dodge Caravan traveling in the same direction.

Polk deputies say the vehicle's driver, 50-year-old Prakesh Patel, swerved to try to avoid hitting the teen, but was unsuccessful.

After the minivan came to a stop in a ditch, deputies say Patel got out and ran over to Hernandez to render aid. Unfortunately, Hernandez died.

Investigators say speed and impairment do not appear to be factors in the crash. The road, Old Dixie Highway, has neither streetlights nor sidewalks in the area where Hernandez was struck. It was dark at the time of the crash.